I have the model III antenna with the Wingman attachment. With the attachment the element sits slightly higher when laying on the roof.A 50 to 60 mph headwind while driving to next site about 2 weeks ago finally bent the leading edge upward (45 degree angle toward center of element). The antenna seems to work just fine, maybe better. With two amplifiers I was getting 40 to 50 channels on a single direction search.I made the mistake of bending the Element straight once and saw a weak crease showing on top side. Of course the element bent up again a few days later when driving again with headwinds. :MThe question for those who might know is: What happens when the element breaks off, and I am left with about a 75% length wing. Will I lose the first amplifier ability to amplify the signal? Or will the element just work as a shorter element and I lose some maximum range on RF channels around 2 to 5? :h

The Wingman is a UHF only director and wont affect VHF at all. You will lose some gain but probably not noticeable on anything but my analyzer. It will also slightly but not noticeably jigger the pattern out of whack.End of day, IMO you're fine unless you're a deep fringe guy. We're probably talking less than 1db loss.ps- Just re-read.. Is this a Wingman element or one of the 'Bat' wings?

Easiest is go to Winegard's web site they will sell replacement parts direct. Complete IV head is only around 40 - 50 $ Art.

Rvpapa wrote:Easiest is go to Winegard's web site they will sell replacement parts direct. Complete IV head is only around 40 - 50 $ Art.X2

Jeff: It is the Bat "Wing". The left portion that sits facing the front of the MH when stored in travel position. The reason I wonder about it is that wing is light a "race track" (long straight oval). If the piece breaks off it looks like I would be left with a "U" shaped element, unless the two wings are actually separated from each other.I am not sure how the left over length calculates out for longer RF wavelengths. I am a firm believer in "Don't fix what is not broke". In my mind it is not yet broken. For those who do not already know I have a daytime range of 120 miles, and a night time (or cloudy day) range of up to 200 miles. I have been using this system for 3 years now on 2 amplifiers.

MNtundraRet wrote:Jeff: It is the Bat "Wing". The left portion that sits facing the front of the MH when stored in travel position. The reason I wonder about it is that wing is light a "race track" (long straight oval). If the piece breaks off it looks like I would be left with a "U" shaped element, unless the two wings are actually separated from each other.I am not sure how the left over length calculates out for longer RF wavelengths. I am a firm believer in "Don't fix what is not broke". In my mind it is not yet broken. For those who do not already know I have a daytime range of 120 miles, and a night time (or cloudy day) range of up to 200 miles. I have been using this system for 3 years now on 2 amplifiers.Got it.. I doubt if that missing piece is a tuned element since it needs to perform from 54-216MHz+ for VHF. Magic elements like that are pretty specifically tuned. That hole is probably more aerodynamic than anything else, but clearly that didn't work out for you.. :)

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SCVJeff
Explorer
May 08, 2015
MNtundraRet wrote:
Jeff: It is the Bat "Wing". The left portion that sits facing the front of the MH when stored in travel position. The reason I wonder about it is that wing is light a "race track" (long straight oval). If the piece breaks off it looks like I would be left with a "U" shaped element, unless the two wings are actually separated from each other.

I am not sure how the left over length calculates out for longer RF wavelengths. I am a firm believer in "Don't fix what is not broke". In my mind it is not yet broken. For those who do not already know I have a daytime range of 120 miles, and a night time (or cloudy day) range of up to 200 miles. I have been using this system for 3 years now on 2 amplifiers.
Got it.. I doubt if that missing piece is a tuned element since it needs to perform from 54-216MHz+ for VHF. Magic elements like that are pretty specifically tuned. That hole is probably more aerodynamic than anything else, but clearly that didn't work out for you.. :)
MNtundraRet
Navigator
May 08, 2015
Jeff: It is the Bat "Wing". The left portion that sits facing the front of the MH when stored in travel position. The reason I wonder about it is that wing is light a "race track" (long straight oval). If the piece breaks off it looks like I would be left with a "U" shaped element, unless the two wings are actually separated from each other.

I am not sure how the left over length calculates out for longer RF wavelengths. I am a firm believer in "Don't fix what is not broke". In my mind it is not yet broken. For those who do not already know I have a daytime range of 120 miles, and a night time (or cloudy day) range of up to 200 miles. I have been using this system for 3 years now on 2 amplifiers.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 08, 2015
Rvpapa wrote:
Easiest is go to Winegard's web site they will sell replacement parts direct. Complete IV head is only around 40 - 50 $
Art.

X2
Rvpapa
Explorer
May 08, 2015
Easiest is go to Winegard's web site they will sell replacement parts direct. Complete IV head is only around 40 - 50 $
Art.
SCVJeff
Explorer
May 08, 2015
The Wingman is a UHF only director and wont affect VHF at all. You will lose some gain but probably not noticeable on anything but my analyzer. It will also slightly but not noticeably jigger the pattern out of whack.

End of day, IMO you're fine unless you're a deep fringe guy. We're probably talking less than 1db loss.

ps- Just re-read.. Is this a Wingman element or one of the 'Bat' wings?

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